Amorphous carbon thin films with a wide range of sp2 fraction from 20 to 90% grown by filtered cathodic arc deposition have been examined by ultraviolet (UV) at 325 nm and visible Raman spectroscopy at 457 nm excitation wavelength. The comprehensive study of behaviour of G, D and T band with sp2/sp3 content has been carried out. The upwards shift of the G peak with sp3 content was observed for both excitation wavelengths. It was also found that the I(D)/I(G) ratio decreases with sp3 content for UV and visible excitations, and for high sp3 content I(D)/I(G) tends to zero. The dispersion of the G peak is also investigated in this work as a function of sp2 content.

We study a higher-order concurrent language with cryptographic
primitives, for which we develop a sound and complete, rstorder
testing theory for the preservation of safety properties. Our theory
is based on co-inductive set simulations over transitions in a rst-order
Labelled Transition System. This keeps track of the knowledge of the observer,
and treats transmitted higher-order values in a symbolic manner,
thus obviating the quanti cation over functional contexts. Our characterisation
provides an attractive proof technique, and we illustrate its
usefulness in proofs of equivalence, including cases where bisimulation
theory does not apply.

This paper provides modal- and relational characterisations of may- and must-testing preorders for recursive CSP
processes with divergence, featuring probabilistic as well as nondeterministic choice. May testing is characterised in
terms of simulation, and must testing in terms of failure simulation. To this end we develop weak transitions between
probabilistic processes, elaborate their topological properties, and capture divergence in terms of partial distributions.

The electro-oxidation of glucose at nickel hydroxide films is
discussed. These films can be electrodeposited using a simple potential multi-cycling procedure.
The resulting films exhibit a nanostructured surface morphology. Cyclic voltammetry, rotating- disk
electrode voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy have been used to elucidate the
kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of glucose. NiOOH is shown to be the active form of the
nickel hydroxide layer and the impedance data indicates significant surface adsorption at these
sites. Furthermore, mass-transport-corrected Tafel slopes of ca. 40 and 60 mV/dec were observed at
low and high potentials respectively identifying a change in rate-control with increasing
potential. Finally, we show using amperometric techniques that this simple modified electrode
possesses excellent sensitivity for the oxidation of glucose, displaying current increases of ca.
3.7 mA mM?1 cm?2 with a limit
of detection of the o...

Given the heterogeneity of healthcare software systems,
data from each system is often incompatible inhibiting interoperability.
To enable the sharing and exchange of
healthcare information interoperability standards must be
adhered to. Health Level Seven (HL7) is the international
standards organisation that promotes and enforces
the standardisation of electronic healthcare information to
facilitate its exchange and management. Incorporating
HL7 functionality into existing applications requires significant
modification and intrusive extensions. Using Aspect-
Oriented Programming (AOP), we can introduce HL7 functionality
into existing applications without the requirement
for refactoring or modification. HL7 data formatting affects
multiple parts of an application and hence is a ?crosscutting
concern?. These concerns which entwine with base
functionality introduce complexity and reduce modularity.
A second benefit of AOP is its advanced modularisation
capabilities which are capable o...

Image repositories often contain a large amount of metadata about their content. However many resources, such as photographs, have inherent aesthetic qualities that can be difficult to describe in a semantically consistent and usable manner, yet would be highly valuable for users in exploring large image repositories, such as Flickr. Automatically augmenting existing metadata with expert perspectives has the potential to give users a consistent aesthetic vocabulary to search and explore such repositories. SARA (Semantic Attribute Reconciliation Architecture) is a system that supports users to leverage domain expertise while searching for items in a metadata-rich domain. X2Photo is a tool built on SARA?s functionality to enable image searching based on a picture?s aesthetic characteristics and user-generated tags. This paper describes X2Photo in detail, the approach to augmenting visual media with expertise, and the evaluation results which reveal how semantically described aesthetic...

We present an application focused on the design of resilient long-reach passive optical networks. We specifically consider dual-parented networks whereby each customer must be connected to two metro sites via local exchange sites. An important property of such a placement is resilience to single metro node failure. The objective of the application is to determine the optimal position of a set of metro nodes such that the total optical fibre length is minimized. We prove that this problem is NP-Complete. We present two alternative combinatorial optimisation approaches to finding an optimal metro node placement using: a mixed integer linear programming (MIP) formulation of the problem; and, a hybrid approach that uses clustering as a preprocessing step. We consider a detailed case-study based on a network for Ireland. The hybrid approach scales well and finds solutions that are close to optimal, with a runtime that is two orders-of-magnitude better than the MIP model.

We present an application focused on the design of resilient long-reach passive optical networks. We speci?cally consider dual parented networks whereby each customer must be connected to two metro sites via a local exchange sites. An important property of such a placement is resilience to single metro node failure. The objective of the application is to determine the optimal position of a set of metro-nodes such that the total optical ?bre length is minimised. We prove that the decision variant of this problem is NP-Complete. We present three alternative combinatorial optimisation approaches to ?nding an optimal metro node placement using: a mixed integer linear programming formulation of the problem; a hybrid approach that uses clustering as a preprocessing step; and, ?nally, a local search approach. We consider a detailed case-study based on a network for Ireland. The hybrid approach scales well and ?nds solutions that are close to optimal, with a runtime that is two orders-of-ma...

Timely wireless communication is essential to allow
real-time mobile applications, such as communication
between mobile robots or inter-vehicle communication to
be realized. The real-time event-based communication
paradigm has been recognized as an appropriate highlevel
communication scheme to connect autonomous
components in large distributed control systems [1]. We
investigate whether real-time event constraints can be
guaranteed in a mobile ad hoc wireless network.
In this work in progress paper we present our analysis
of the impact of mobile ad hoc wireless networks on
achieving real-time guarantees. We introduce our ongoing
work on the use of a proactive routing and resource
reservation protocol using mobility awareness and
prediction to reduce the unpredictability of a dynamic
mobile ad hoc wireless network.

We study the behavioural theory of a higher-order distributed calculus with private names and locations that can be passivated. For this language, we present a novel Labelled Transition System where higher-order inputs are symbolic agents that can perform a limited number of transitions, capturing the nature of passivation. Standard first-order weak bisimulation over this LTS coincides with contextual equivalence, and provides the first useful proof technique without a universal quantification over contexts for an intricate distributed language.

The role of the engineer in
industry has evolved, with to
day?s engineering businesses
seeking engineers with abilities and attributes
in two broad areas - te
chnical understanding and
enabling skills. Institutions within the engi
neering community such as ABET, the RAE and
members of the CDIO initiative
have highlighted a need for
new approaches to learning and
teaching of engineering within
our academic institutions.
A common paradigm of engineer
ing third level education sees a first year syllabus which
introduces basic engineering sciences and mathem
atics, proceeding in subsequent years through
more applied science and discipline specific t
echnologies, and culminating with a variety of
?capstone? courses and a substa
ntial engineering project. In
many cases the key engineering
skills of synthesis, creativity, de
sign and implementation are only r
eally given full expression at
this (late) stage.
This paper reports on the implementation of a ne
w project based ...

The construction industry has been traditionally recognised as a fragmented sector associated with a poor level of implementation and penetration of Information Communication Technology (ICT) by Small to Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs). Cloud computing is a collective term that can facilitate the ability to collaborate within a central repository that can act as a base for interoperability between various construction disciplines and their software applications. Cloud computing is a new layer of internet architecture that creates an open opportunity to add better functionality to an increasingly global network. The characteristics of cloud computing, such as, shared infrastructure, on-demand applications, elasticity and consumption-based pricing, allows all disciplines in the sector to benefit. This paper will present the findings of a survey carried out by the Construction IT Alliance (CITA) in Ireland, as to the drivers, barriers and preferred procurement options for delivery of cl...

The primary purpose of this paper is the development of an active-learning, constructivist coursework plan, adhering to the Conceive Design Implement Operate (CDIO) initiative, for integration with the standard second level school syllabus.
Initial investigation was executed through questionnaire research within multiple environments, and with students of varying ages from numerous educational backgrounds. Based on the results, the initial plans for a Transition Year coursework syllabus were developed. The potential assignment designs were initially tested within a classroom environment of twenty students of the Centre for Talented Youth in Ireland (CTYI). The finalized coursework was then executed within a Transition Year class of Santa Sabina, Sutton, and the functionality of the course plan continuously monitored in order to refine the syllabus.
The secondary objective of the development of a demonstration model suitable for use at college open days and presentations for primary...

The purpose of this study was to identify the performance determining factors of the 5-iron golf swing. Joint kinematics were obtained from thirty male golfers using a twelve camera motion analysis system. Participants were divided into two groups, based on their ball launch speed (high vs. low). Those in the high ball speed group were deemed to be the more skillful group. Statistical analysis was used to identify the variables which differed significantly between the two groups, and could therefore be classified as the performance determining factors. The following factors were important to performance success: (i) the ability of the golfer to maintain a large X Factor angle and generate large X Factor angular velocity throughout the downswing, (ii) maintain the left arm as straight as possible throughout the swing, (iii) utilise greater movement of the hips in the direction of the target and a greater extension of the right hip during the downswing and (iv) greater flexion of both...

A multiple degree-of-freedom hand has been developed which can interact
with a human on a fundamental level. Th
e robotic hand is closely modelled on a
human hand, consisting of four fingers a
nd a thumb. The digits are actuated using
five servo motors to provide independen
t motion and control. The robotic hand
uses a webcam and artificial intelligence to detect and process a user?s hand
position. This human interaction capab
ility has allowed the robotic hand to
perform simple operations such as playin
g a human in a game of rock paper
scissors. The latter has been showcased at a number of events to promote
engineering as a career choice.
Basic artificial intelligence has been inte
grated into the system to allow the
robotic hand to process and react to a video input stream. This has been used to
allow the hand to make a more inform
ed choice based on the current scenario.
Potential future applications of the r
obotic hand in manufacturing are explored.
KEYWORDS:

Most Western economies are suffering from problems in attracting students
to study Science, Engineering and T
echnology courses at university level.
Concurrently, engineering programmes te
nd to have higher dropout rates than
courses in humanities, business or health
sciences. They also typically have a
higher unit cost per student. Many reasons
have been suggested in the literature
why the retention rates are lower in such
programmes. However little data exists
in the Irish context for what information is
useful in identifying which factors are
predictive of retention and to what degr
ee they influence retention probability.
What information is available, typically considers single factors (e.g.
mathematical attainment, overall grades,
English attainment etc), but does not
consider any interaction effects.
The work reported in this paper examines entrance data for approximately
22,000 students in Trinity College over a 10 year period. Those variables which
are pre...

To complement the existing treatment guidelines for all tumour types, ESMO organises consensus conferences to focus on specific issues in each type of tumour. The 2nd ESMO Consensus Conference on Lung Cancer was held on 11-12 May 2013 in Lugano. A total of 35 experts met to address several questions on non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in each of four areas: pathology and molecular biomarkers, first-line/second and further lines in advanced disease, early stage disease and locally-advanced disease. For each question, recommendations were made including reference to the grade of recommendation and level of evidence. This consensus paper focuses on 1st line / 2nd and further lines of treatment in advanced disease.

This paper reviews the Internet-inspired security work on delay tolerant networking, in particular, as it might apply to space missions, and identifies some challenges arising, for both the Internet security community and for space missions. These challenges include the development of key management schemes suited for space missions as well as a characterization of the actual security requirements applying. A specific goal of this paper is therefore to elicit feedback from space mission IT specialists in order to guide the development of security mechanisms for delay tolerant networking

Most previous work on real-time event-based communication has assumed infrastructure-based networks. The underlying assumption of this work is that application components are stationary and that a fixed network infrastructure exists to facilitate communication between them [1]. Ad hoc wireless networks comprise sets of mobile nodes connected by wireless links that form arbitrary wireless network topologies without the use of any centralized access point. Ad hoc wireless networks are inherently self-creating, selforganizing and self-administering [2]. Such highly mobile, dynamic networks do not satisfy the design assumptions for previous real-time event-based communication.

This paper introduces Collaborative Reinforcement
Learning (CRL), a coordination model for solving
system-wide optimisation problems in distributed systems
where there is no support for global state. In
CRL the autonomic properties of a distributed system
emerge from the coordination of individual agents solving
discrete optimisation problems using Reinforcement
Learning. In the context of an ad hoc routing protocol,
we show how system-wide optimisation in CRL can be
used to establish and maintain autonomic properties for
decentralised distributed systems.